Wales stars hail ‘nice chief’ Gary Velocity on anniversary of dying and admit ‘it is onerous to imagine it’s been ten years’

JOE ALLEN has hailed Gary Velocity’s legacy as Wales bid to lastly qualify for a World Cup.

Friday is the tenth anniversary of Velocity’s final recreation in cost — a 4-1 residence conquer Norway.

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His ultimate involvement with Wales noticed him attend the 2014 World Cup fixtures assembly simply days earlier than he tragically took his personal life on November 27, 2011. He was simply 42.

It was Velocity and the Dragons’ dream to qualify  or the worldwide finals for the primary time since 1958 — and 4 factors from residence qualifiers in opposition to Belarus on Saturday and Belgium subsequent Tuesday will e-book a play-off spot for Qatar.

Midfielder Allen, 31, mentioned: “It was a horrendous and really darkish day. It’s onerous to imagine it’s been ten years.

“A number of the lads nonetheless speak about Gary, the affect he had on us as younger gamers again when he was supervisor.

“He revamped a number of issues, not simply on the pitch however off it as nicely, and we’ve reaped the rewards.

“That’s one of many massive explanation why Welsh soccer has been in such a wholesome place over the previous decade.

“He’ll at all times be in our ideas. He was a part of the start of our street, to begin with for Euro 2016 and every little thing that’s come since.”

Dragons keeper Wayne Hennessey, 34, added: “He was an excellent chief.

“That was the beginning of the trail that made us profitable and the place we’re at this time.

The older lads undoubtedly respect the work he did — he’s so sadly missed.”

Velocity laid the foundations for a golden technology that features Allen, Hennessey, Aaron Ramsey, 30, and captain Gareth Bale, 32, who is ready to win his a centesimal cap.

And Velocity’s reminiscence lives on brightly with Wales attaining back-to-back Euros appearances underneath Chris Coleman and present boss Robert Web page.

A World Cup spot stays the ultimate field to tick and 67-cap Stoke ace Allen concedes time is operating out for the outdated guard.

He mentioned: “It’s the one we haven’t received. It’s the standout goal for me.

“We’ve come fairly shut prior to now however have fallen quick.

Gareth and Aaron belong on that stage

Joe Allen

“We’re getting older and realise we would not get one other probability.

“We couldn’t be hungrier or extra motivated to throw completely every little thing on the video games forward to attempt to get ourselves there and be a part of the expertise of being in a World Cup.

“Gareth and Aaron belong on that stage. Actually by way of their capability  and likewise by way of what they’ve carried out in worldwide soccer for years.

“They’ve proven large high quality and it could be becoming in the event that they did get that probability.”

In the meantime, former Wales star Mickey Thomas  has revealed he is cancer-free after life-saving surgical procedure to take away a tumour.

The ex-winger, 67, was identified with abdomen most cancers nearly two years in the past.

However after his newest six-monthly verify, Thomas tweeted: “Nice consequence yesterday — after CT scan my outcomes got here again and now I’m most cancers free. So completely happy.”

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